Happy Mother's Day

To all of you young ladies affectionately known as 'Mom', I wish you a Happy Mother's Day. But more than that, I wish you an over abundance of love and affection from your children, grandchildren and spouses each day of the year... not just the 'special' days.

I think of my mother, Betty, an adorable 81 year old that has loved, nurtured, and put up with me for 54 of those years. She gave birth to me and five siblings, and lovingly provided for us until we were mature enough to leave the roost. Mom instilled in us a sense of right and wrong, and established our relationship with Christ early in our lives. It took until my 50s until I fully accepted Jesus into my life, but my mother planted the seeds. making sure we went to church and Sunday school each week. Now that I am a Christian and a Father, I appreciate her so much more with my heart than ever before. Thank you Mom for being such a FANTASTIC mother. I love you so very much.

I would be remiss if I left out my beautiful wife Lisa, who is a wonderful mother to our boys. Lisa has been working so hard these past few years earning a nursing degree at the age of 45, while holding down a job. All of that on top of being a mother and wife. I know she feels badly about the times she is a 100 miles away at school every other week. But that road is almost at an end as she graduates this month. She has to understand that the example of hard work and perserverance that she has demonstrated to the boys is a wonderful life lesson for them. It's one thing to talk about the virtues of hard work, but it's cemented for them when they see it first hand. Thank you Lisa for being such a great Mom and tremendous role model for Noah and Nicholas.

Enjoy all of the accolades, flowers and gestures Moms. You deserve them all each and every day.

The Faintest Ink

"The Faintest Ink Is More Powerful Than The Strongest Memory"
~ Bishop Joseph Garlington (Promise Keepers 2006) ~

Attending Promise Keepers in Albany last summer with my Christian brothers, I was enthralled with one particular speaker, Bishop Joseph Garlington, Senior Pastor of Covenant Church of Pittsburgh. He spoke to thousands of men of about Christ and of issues that are important to men of faith. When he made the above comment, I thought 'how powerful that is. But is that really true?" In more ways than not, I think it is.

The 'faintest ink', be it a writing, drawing, or photograph is literally a snapshot of one's soul and thoughts at a point in time. While I'd like to think that I have a good memory, and that thoughts or images on paper can't compare to the emotions of a fond memory -- the fact is that memories often are clouded. Images are blurred over time, thoughts are just snipets of what we were actually thinking and feeling.

The beauty of blogging, journaling, taking photographs, drawing, etc. is that we see what we saw, and are reminded of our thoughts, no matter how faded the ink is. Emotions come rushing back as well. How often have you viewed a photo album or read a journal entry and thought to yourself, "oh, I had forgotten all about that", or catch yourself smiling, laughing or crying as your heart relives the moment.

And others can share in the thoughts, emotions and images of your memories, getting a peek into the person God has created you to be.